Archives

Posts tagged ‘recipe’

Alright, so you may or may not have heard of the South American root vegetable- Jicama. Either way, you should know that it is a great food to incorporate into your diet. Here’s why:

First of all, it’s delicious. Jicama has a crispy sweet flavor which is somewhere in between the flavors of an apple and water chestnut.

Secondly, It’s easy. Jicama can be eaten raw or cooked. It is easy to slice, chop, julienne, or whatever you feel like! You just have to peel off the outer layer first.

Thirdly, Jicama is low-cal, fat-free and nutritious. It provides lots of fiber and Vitamin C.

There are three main nutritious qualities about Jicama which actually contribute to weight loss:

Jicama contains Vitamin C which utilizes glucose for energy rather than storing it as fat.

There are significant amounts of fiber in Jicama. Fiber is what helps your body eliminate waste. Without fiber your body would begin to harbor harmful toxins and it would also become more difficult for you to lose weight.

The most unique quality about Jicama is that it contains significant levels of ellagic acid. Ellagic acid actually will help you control and lose weight because it takes the calories from food and helps the body use those calories for energy, rather than storing the unwanted cals as fat.

My favorite way to eat Jicama is to either chop it fresh and toss into a salad, or make Jicama Fries. It’s so simple, all you have to do is coat your chopped Jicama with a small amount of olive oil, and let them bake in the oven. You can season the fries with whatever you like…the flavor of Jicama is so versatile you could season the fries with anything from garlic to cinnamon. NB

Quinoa is the only natural grain which provides a complete source of protein. If this doesn’t sound exciting enough to you then you should be aware, protein is made up of amino acids- nine of which are essential. Not only is Quinoa a protein powerhouse (often used by body builders) but it is an absolute complete source of these amino acids. This stuff is great!

My favorite brand of Quinoa, Village Harvest, states “the ancient Incas knew that quinoa was the best source of plant protein on earth. We have rediscovered quinoa, because of its nutty flavor, chewy texture and all essential amino acids”.

The Low-Down:

Brand: Village Harvest Quinoa (Premium Whole Grain) Blue Bag

Nutrition: 1/4 Cup

160 Calories

27g Carbs

6g Protein

Contains: Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Copper

Cooking Instructions:

Rinse 1 cup quinoa until water runs clear.

Combine quinoa with two cups of water and bring to a boil. Turn down heat to low and simmer until water is completely absorbed, usually 25 minutes. The germ ring will be visible when the quinoa is fully cooked. Fluff with fork and serve.

Delicious Quinoa Salad Recipe:

Refrigerate Quinoa until it is cooled. Add in chopped onion, celery, parsley, and carrots to taste. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Enjoy.

Wonderful additions to the salad are grilled chicken or chopped avocado for veggies, like me! NB